Sheet-metal-bending machine



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I-IIHH INVENTOR William B! liner ATTORNEY W. BITTNER SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE Jan. 4 1927.

Filed May 20. 1926 I 1,613,307 Jan. 4, 1927. W TTNER SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v {I j;

,2- o .1 if f 4 1m .a J 5 5 J ATTORNEY Jan. 4 1927- w. BITTNER SHEET METAL BENDING MACHINE Filed May 20. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet s 4/ INVENTOR William fii/fner ATTORNEY dll Patented Jan. 4, 1927.

llhllilhl STATES.

WILLIAM BITTNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SHEET-1VIETAL-BENDING LMACHINE.

Application filed May 20 The object of my invention is to provide means for expeditiously and accurately bending the edges of metal sheets, to, form angled or curved marginal edges thereon, my invention being particularly adapted for bendnig the edges of sheets having irregular shapes.

In carrying out my invention I provide a table in which is mounted a rotative disk adapted to be retained in different set positions, which disk is provided with spaced pairs of rolls adapted to bend the edges oi sheets when passed therebetween, with means for rotating either pair of rolls as desired according to the character of the bend to be made at the edge of a metal sheet.

My invention also comprises novel details of improvement that will be more fully hereinafter set forth and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanynig drawings formihg a part hereof, where1n Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a sheet metal bending machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an inverted plan View, looking from the opposite side of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View on line 33, in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on line H, in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a partly broken plan View; Fig. 6 is a section on line 66, in Fig. 5.; Fig. 7 is a detail of a spindle adjusting in ember Fig. 8 is a detail'plan of part of the table and rotative disk;

9 is a section on line 99, in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a detail ot a spindle for a bending roll;

Fi 11 is j a plan view of a detachable cap for the spindle; 12 1s a section on line 12212, 111

' 3. 1 1, 15 and 16 illustrate metal sheets t i'lf'erently shaped bent edge portions. innlar numerals of reference indicate corres tionding parts in the several views.

The nume al 1 indicates a table or frame shown prov .ed with a substantially flat top 1 and legs 1, which top is provided with a circular opening 2 in which a disk 3 is rotatively supported. The dis; 3 is shown provid d with an annular outer rib 4 rotative in a corresponding recess 5 in table top 1 and rotntively retained by a ring (5 detachably s cured to the table top by means of screw threads at Y. The construction described enables the disk to be manually ro- 1925. Serial No. 110,362.

tated to be set in any desired position. I

have shown the disk 3 provided with four pairs of rolls located 90 apart, between which rolls the edges of metal sheets. A may be passed for bending said edges. For supporting the rolls spindles or shafts 8; and 9 are carried by disk 3 and pairs of said spindles are shown radially disposed on opposite sides of the axis of the disk, the pairs of spindles being at 90 apart. The corresponding pairs of spindles have pinions or gears 10 and 11 that intermesh and are of the same diameter for rotating the Spindles at the same speed in opposite directions, which pinions may be secured to the spindles by means of k y 2, (Fisand retai on the spindles by means of nuts 13, the upper sides of the pinions opposing the disk 3, (Fig. 4). The spindles 8 are shown journaled in box-like bearings 14 located in corp din ape t e 15. n disk 3, t e s u der-s S on the spindles bearing against opposing seats 1/1 in the bcaringsjlt for retaining the spindles and the pinions in prop erlocation, (Fig. The spindles 9 are journaled in box-like bearings 16 located respectively in radial slots 1? in disk 3, (Fig. 5), for lateral adjustment ofthe spindles. The spindles .9, are shown provided with shoulders 9? bearing against opposing seats 16" in the bearings 16 for retaining the spindles 9 and the pinions 11 in proper location. The inner surfaces 16 of the bearings 16 are tapered or inclined from ebn e d wnwardly and toward the of disk 3, and are resisted by a controlling member 18 having four late a1 jprojcctions 18 that are guided in the corresponding slots 17 for en gagement with the adjacent bearings 16, (Figs. 4, 6 and 7). The edges 18 of the projections 18 are inclined corresponding to the surfaces 16' to cooperate therewith for lateral adjustment or location of the bearings 16. The central portion of the adjn member 18 fitsin the central space 17 H 3, from which the slots 17 radiate, (F 5). Aretaining plate 19 formember 18 is sec-n1 .c in a countersunk seat 20 in the bottom of disk 3 by means of screen 21 passing through said plate and engaging threads in holes in the disk, which plate ha radial'slots or recesses 19: which receive the corresponding bearings S, (Fig. A. screw 22 passing freely through member 18 meshes in a threaded hole 23 in plate 19 for adjusting the member 18 downwardly respecting disk lit) 3 for forcing the bearings 16 radially outwardly to correspondingly adjust the spindles 9 in the direction of the spindles 8 for operatively spacing and resisting radial thrust of the associate rolls. A spring 2a, shown located in a recess in the under surface of member 18, bears against said member and against plate 19 tending to force said member upwardly. The arrangement is such that when screw 22 is unscrewed the spring will force the member 18 upwardly and thereby, will permit the bearings 16 to move inwardly to regulate the spacing of companion rolls, and when the screw is screwed downwardly the member 18 will be forced correspondingly, so that its inclined surfaces will engage the inclined surfaces of the bearings 16 to force the spindles 9 outwardly, and the screw will resist upward thrust of the member. The radial or lateral adjustment of the spindles 9 is intended to accommodate metal sheets of different gage or thickness between the bending rolls carried by the spindles.

Upon one pair of spindles 8, 9 are secured corresponding bending rolls 26 and 27, (Fig. 4) the marginal surfaces of which are shown shaped at an angle of approximately 45 from the axis of the corresponding spindle, which surfaces of the rolls oppose so as toreceive the edge portion of a metal sheet A therebetween to bend the edge a at an angle of 45 when the sheet is held flatwise respecting the table top the top of roll 26 being,

flat for the sheet to rest upon, (Figs. 4 and 13.) Another pair of spindles is provided with bending rolls 28 and 29 for the sheet, having their side surfaces substantially parallel with the axes of the spindles for bending the edge a of sheet A from the 45 angle to a 90 angle when the previously bent sheet edge is passed between said rolls,

(Figs. 3 and 14:)- When it is desired to have the machine equipped with means for curving themarginal portions of metal sheets a pair of spindles is provided with rolls 30 and 31, the marginal surfaces of which are at an angle of 15 to the axes of the rolls for bending the edge portions of the sheet at substantially 45, as at b in Figs. 4; and 15, the bent edge portion Z) being of sufficient extent to permit the same to be partially rolled, as indicated in Fig. 16, by means of a pair of rolls 32 and 33 having opposing surfaces curved substantially semi-circular}, (Figs.

7 3 and 16), the rolls 32 and 33 being carried by a pair of spindles 8 and 9.

In order to retain the outer portion of the metal sheet snugly down. upon the top of the corresponding rolls 26, 28, 30 or 32 I provide the roll with a cap 34L that projects outwardly beyond such roll and over the adj a cent companion roll for a suitable distance, which caps are 'removably attached to the spindles 9. The caps 34 are provided with a central bore 35 for the reception of the spindles 9 and at opposite or radial sides of said bore are recesses or slots 36 through which the ends of pins 37 projecting through the spindles 9 may pass to enter the seats 38 in the outer portions of the caps, (Figs. 10, 11 and 12). When the caps are to be applied on the corresponding rolls the caps are slid along the spindles with the projecting ends of the pins 37 passing through the slots 36 until said pins enter the seats 38, whereupon the caps are turned about half way around to cause the pins to overlie the bottom portions of the seats 38 and retain the caps snugly over the corresponding rolls. When it is desired to release a sheet having its bent edge between two rolls the corresponding cap 34 will be removed to release the bent edge portion of the sheet from between the rolls.

One pair of rolls is to be rotated at a time and in order to operate the rolls I have illustrated a drive gear 39 journaled upon a stud 40 secured to and depending from table top 1 the gear 39 being in such a position that when disk 3 is manually rotated to the operating position one of the pinions 10 will be in mesh with the gear 39. disk may be retained in theiaforesaid operating position by means of a dog 41 hung on a pivot 42 carried by a bracket 13 secured to and depending from table top 1, the tip end of said dog being adapted to engage one of a series of equally spaced recesses 44c, in the under surface of the disk 3 to retain the disk from rotating, (Figs. 2 and 9). When the disk is to be set with a pinion 10 in mesh with gear 39 the dog may be swung free from a recess 4A and re-engaged with another recess when the disk is set. To drive the gear 39 I have illustrated a worm wheel 45 attached to said gear, such as by studs 46, (Fig. 3), which worm wheel is in mesh with a worm 17 on a shaft 48 journaled in bearings e 9 hung from the table top, which shaft is shown provided with a sprocket wheel 50 receiving a chain 51 from a drive sprocket 52 on a shaft 53 journaled on the main frame, (Figs. 3 and i). Said shaft may be driven in any suitable way, a by means of a pulley at 54 receiving a belt 55 from a drive pulley 56 operated by a motor 57. 7

Assuming that the edge a of a sheet A is to be bent at about respecting the sheet, the disk 3 will be set with the rolls 26 and 27 in the position indicated at X in Fig.1, with the corresponding pinion 10 in mesh with the gear 39, and the disk will be locked in such a position by dog A1. With the parts in such position the rolls 26 and 27 will rotate in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1 and an edge of the sheet A will be inserted between said rolls, the sheet being bent flat upon roll 26 over table top 1. The sheet The reiaaor will be guided by the operator in accordance with the outline of the sheet, and the rotation of the rolls 26 and 27 will cause the edge of the sheet to be fed and to be bent at about r5 with respect to the plane of the sheet, as indicated in Fig. 13.- When such edge a has been bent on the sheet and the latter is freed from the rolls 26 and 27 the disk 3 will be rotated a quarter turn to present the roll 28 and 29, (Fig. 3), at the position X in Fig. 1 and to mesh the corresponding pinion 10 with the gear 39 for rotating said rolls in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1. The previously turned edge 0; of sheet A will then be presented between the rolls 28 and 29 and the sheet will be guided by the operator according to its shape so that its edge a will be bent substantially at right angles to the plane of the sheet, as indicated in Fig. 1 1-.

In case a curved edge is to be bent upon the sheet A the disk 3 is rotated until the rolls 30 and 31 are brought to the position X in Fig. 1 with the corresponding pinion 10 in mesh with gear 39, and the disk is retained. Thereupon the edge of the sheet A is entered between said rolls and guided in manner before stated, so that the edge 6 will be bent at about 4 to the plane of the sheet, and then the disk 3 is again rotated to bring the rolls 32 and 33 to the position X with the corresponding pinion 10 in mesh with gear 39. The disk is retained and then the bent edge 6 of the sheet is passed between said rolls 32 and 33 for further bending said edge in curved form, as indicated in Fig. 16. To release the sheet from either pair of rolls the corresponding cap 3st is removed from its spindle.

In accordance with my invention the edges of the sheets, and particularly sheets having irregular outline or marginal edges, may be expeditiously and accurately bent to the desired angle in accordance with the shape of the pair or pairs of rolls between which the edges of the sheet are guided by the operator, whereby accuracy of result is attained with cheapness in cost compared to the practise as known to me, wherein rolls are manually operated for bending the ec ges of sheets which are required to be held by one or more operators, and which edges are usually hammered manually to bend a curved edge on the sheets.

My invention is not limited to the details of construction illustrated and described, as the same may be varied, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention. The surfaces of the rolls 26, 28, 30 and 32 may be knurled or roughened to assist in feeding the edges of the metal sheets.

Having now described my invention what I claim is 1. A machine for bending the edges of metal sheets comprising a table, a rotative disk carried by the table, pairs of spaced rolls rotatively carried by the disk, intermeshing pinions connected with said rolls for rotating them, a drive gear located in position to engage a pinion of either of the rolls according to the position of the disk, and means to rotate said gear for operating said pinions and rolls.

2. A. machine as set forth in claim 1, in which the pairs of rolls are located in radial positions respecting the axis of the disk, and the gear is journaled at one side of the disk for engaging a pinion of either pair of rolls with the gear according to the position of the disk.

3. A. machine for bending the edges of metal sheets comprising a table having a top provided with an opening, a disk rotatlv-ely supported in said opening, pairs of spindles rotatively carried by the disk and radially disposed respecting its axis, said spindles being provided with rolls above the disk and with intermeshing pinions below the disk, a gear rotatively carried by the table top at one side of the disk in position. to mesh with a pinion of either pair of spindles according to the position of the disk, and means to rotate said gear.

i. A machine for bending the edges of metal sheets comprising a table, a rotative disk carried thereby, pairs of spindles ro tatively carried by the disk, one spindle of each pair being provided with a bearing located in a corresponding radial slot in the disk, an adjusting member between said bearings, said member and bearings having cooperative surfaces for adjustment of the bearings relatively to said member, means to operate said member for adjustment of said bearings, rolls carried the spindles and provided with cooperative surfaces, and means to rotate either pair of said rolls at will.

5. A machine as set forth in claim a, in which said adjustable bearings have inclined surfaces and the adjusting member is pro vided with corresponding inclined surfaces cooperating with said surfaces of the bearings for forcing said bearings radially and resisting the thrust of the bearings, and means to adjust and retain said member.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 4, in which said adjustable bearings have inclined surfaces and the adjusting member is provided with corresponding inclined surfaces cooperating with said surfaces of the bearings for forcing said bearings radially and resisting the thrust of the bearings, a plate secured to the disk, and a screw carried by the plate and cooperative with the disk for operating the latter and to resist thrust of the n ember.

7. A machine for bending the edges of metal sheets comprising a table, a disk 1'0- tatively carried by the table, spaced pairs of spindles rotatively carried by the disk, 00- operative rolls carried by the spindles for bending metal sheets, one of the rolls of each pair having a cap extending over the coml therebetween.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 7, in which the means for retaining the caps comprise pins extending from the spindles and in which the caps have bores to receive the spindles and seats to receive the pins, said bores being provided with slots for the passage of the pins to and from said seats, whereby the caps are detachably carried by the corresponding spindles.

WILLIAM BITTNER. 

